Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund could reportedly offer one of Real Madrid's unwanted defenders an escape route from the Bernabeu.
Left-back Fran Garcia learned his trade in the Blancos' Castilla setup from 2015 to 2021, but he failed to make the breakthrough into the first team and was sold to Rayo Vallecano for just €2m (£1.7m) in 2021.
Following a successful two-year stint with Real's La Liga counterparts, though, Garcia returned to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2023, after Los Blancos triggered his €5m (£4.3m) release clause.
Garcia has appeared on 28 occasions in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti's side in the current campaign, registering five assists, while he has also earned his first two senior caps for Spain since rejoining Los Blancos.
However, the 24-year-old is below Ferland Mendy in the left-back pecking order in Madrid and has only started 12 matches in the 2023-24 La Liga season, in addition to a paltry two Champions League games.
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Dortmund facing competition for Garcia
Furthermore, since Real Madrid's progression from the group stage, Garcia has not earned any minutes in Los Blancos' four knockout matches with RB Leipzig and Manchester City en route to a semi-final showdown with Bayern Munich.
Despite earning a start in last Friday's La Liga win over Real Sociedad with Mendy rested, Garcia is expected to cede his place to the returning Frenchman on Tuesday, as Ancelotti's men head to the Allianz Arena for the first leg.
With Real Madrid also out to strengthen their left-back ranks either this summer or the next, Garcia could soon be heading for the exit door, in spite of his long-running contract until the summer of 2027.
According to Fichajes, Dortmund have now emerged as contenders to sign the Spain international this summer, and Real Madrid would have no qualms about selling him for a profit in the upcoming window.
While Garcia might be open to joining the German powerhouses for 2024-25, he is apparently attracting interest from across Europe, so Dortmund will face intense competition to prise him away from Spain.
Bayern Munich man to replace Garcia?
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Amid speculation that Garcia could swap Spain for Germany, Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies is being tipped to head in the opposite direction to replace the 24-year-old at Real Madrid.
Despite Bayern's best efforts, Davies is still due to become a free agent in the summer of 2025, as his salary demands have supposedly prevented both parties from reaching an agreement over a new contract.
At one stage, it was reported that the Canada international had verbally agreed a switch to the La Liga champions-elect, although such rumours are now thought to be wide of the mark.
Nevertheless, a move to the Bernabeu is expected to materialise at some point in the near future, but Real Madrid may opt to delay their pursuit until next year, when they could sign Davies on a free.
As a result, it is not impossible to envisage Garcia sticking around for one more season, although Ancelotti also has the option of deploying Eduardo Camavinga in a left-back role.
Ben Knapton
